Complaint of overcharging at Mumbai-Pune highway dhabas; Minister Zirwal orders immediate action

A complaint has surfaced that thousands of passengers travelling from the Mumbai-Pune highway to western Maharashtra are being fleeced by private travel bus drivers and some hotels and dhabas on the highway. S. Mulani, secretary of the Rugna Hak Parishad's Mantralaya unit, made the complaint in a written representation to Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal.

The representation says passengers are being charged arbitrary prices for food and drink, served poor-quality food, and that hygiene rules are being ignored. Mulani has demanded a thorough inquiry and strict action against those responsible. He has also submitted a written complaint to the Maharashtra government's Food and Drug Administration department, asking it to run a special inspection drive at these hotels and dhabas.

According to the representation, a large number of private travel buses run daily from Mumbai towards Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts. These buses are stopped at certain designated hotels and dhabas on the highway between about 10 pm and 1 am. The representation also says that at some places, about 30 to 35 travel buses are reported to halt every day. The complaints say passengers have no other option at night, and food prices are raised to exploit this.

The representation also expresses suspicion of a collusion on commission between travel bus drivers and hotel owners. It asks whether money changes hands for stopping buses at particular hotels, why passengers are not allowed to get off at other hotels, and what kind of financial benefits hotel owners give drivers. It seeks an impartial inquiry. It also seeks strict action under the law if the commission allegations are proved. The representation adds that serious complaints are being received about food quality, kitchen cleanliness, drinking water quality and storage of food items at some hotels and dhabas.

Mulani has demanded that the Food and Drug Administration carry out a special inspection of these hotels and dhabas. This would include taking food samples for laboratory testing, checking hygiene and food safety licences, examining menu rate cards, inquiring into billing practices and investigating suspicious financial transactions.

According to a note recorded on the representation, Minister Narhari Zirwal's office on November 5, 2026 directed the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration department to act immediately. However, how many hotels and dhabas have actually been inspected after these directions, how many samples taken, how many violations found and how many operators will face action will be known only after Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe's order. Passengers are now watching whether the action remains on paper or is also seen on the ground.